Monday, February 14, 2011

Sun Be’ur: Taoist Inner Alchemy



Sun Be'ur lived from 1119-1182 in the Shandong Province of China (near the Yellow River).  She was married and had 3 children (1).  During her lifetime she achieved mastery over inner alchemy. Her teacher was Taoist master Wang Chungyang. He transmitted the lineage to her directly before he died, so she could carry on the tradition. As a Taoist priestess, she founded the Purity and Tranquility School (2). Later in life she moved to “Grotto of the Immortal Lady Feng”. In doing so, she inherited a female lineage.  She achieved enlightenment through her Taoist practices. It is said that she ascended bodily to heaven when she died. Sixty years after her death she was considered the only female of the Seven Immortals (3). 
Sun Beur achieved the following through her life and practice:
   *Wife & Mother
   *Holder of 2 lineages
   *Spirit communication
   *Exorcist
   *Priestess
   *Founder of a Spiritual School
   *Poetess
   *Alchemical Master
   

Refining the Spirit
“The relic from before birth
Enters one's heart one day.
Be as careful as if you were holding a full vessel,
Be as gentle as if you were caressing an infant.
The gate of earth should be shut tight,
The portals of heaven should be first opened.
Wash the yellow sprouts clean,
And atop the mountain is thunder shaking the earth.”
By Sun Bu’er
Translation by Thomas Cleary (3)



Sources:
(1)  Women in Taosim, by Catherine & Livia Kohn ( PDF Document)

(3)Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings of Taoist Women , by Thomas Cleary/1996, page 31



5 comments:

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Love this. You're opening a whole new universe here!

Nancy said...

What is the significance of ascending in one's body? I've heard that in a couple of places lately. I'm going to have to Google some of these things. Such as the Seven Immortals. Loving this new blog.

d page said...

This is what I understand: In the Eastern philosophies "ascending with one's body" means you have attained perfection. This is total realization/enlightenment that includes the transformation of matter. To us who are left behind, it appears as if the person disappears completely into the heavens, leaving no body behind. This is extremely rare, and even more so in our times. Attaining light body means that you leave the physical body behind when you attain perfection, but the body will bear particular signs. This still happens in our times.
The idea of becoming immortal and keeping your current body is a very materialistic perception. It doesn't happen that way... yet the myth persists and people become obsessed with it.
Also, almost all traditions from the East have Immortals,or Perfected Beings-- ancestors and lineage holders that have come before us.

Nancy said...

I think I want a new one.

Can we pick one? :-)

d page said...

I am with you on that! Mine is a dysfunctional one , with no instructions or warranty....

Supposedly, once you make it to the Illuminated top, you can create/ project any kind of vehicle needed.